Locqmotive-bell-ringing apparatus



2 Sheets-Sheet l,

(No Model.)

S. H. BEGIN-BOTTOM. LOGOMOTIVE BELL RINGING APPARATUS.

140.440.264. Patented Nov. 11, 1890.

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. S. H. HEGINBOTTOM. LOGOMOTIVB BELL RINGING APPARATUS.

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LOCOIVIOTIVE-BELL-RINGING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 410,264, dated November 11, 1890.

Application filed April 4, 1890. Serial No. 346,567. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL H. HEeINBoT- TOM, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Saginaw, in the county of Saginaw and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locomotive-Bell- Ringing Apparatus; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this speeiiication.

This invention relates to devices for ringing locomotive-bells, and pertains to improvements in that class of bell-ringing apparatus in which a steam or compressed-air cylinder and piston is used as a means for eecting the ringing operation.

My invention consists, chieiiy,in a cylinder having a valve and piston for ringing a locomotive-bell and provided with devices for actuating the valve, whereby the ringing of the bell is automatically controlled byits own momentum; and the invention in the second part consists in the combination, arrangement, and construction of the several elements which are used in my improved apparatus, which will be fully described in a later part of this specification, and will be specifically set forth in the claims.

The object of this invention is to provide a device for automatically controlling by the movement of the bell the admission of air or steam to a locomotive-bell-ringing cylinder at sucha point of the movement of the piston as to check or retard the movement of the bell when the air or steam operating the piston is above normal or a stated pressure.

Another object is to provide devices for ringing a locomotive-bell by steam or air pressure, whereby the ringing operation will be automatically controlled so as to be regular and positive, so that the ringing of the bell may be carried on by steam or air of varying pressure without requiring the constant attention of the engineer or fireman.

In the accompanying drawings will be found illustrated the devices by means of which I attain these objects, and wherein-- Figure l is a side view in elevation of a locomotive-bell and a portion of a locomotive having my improvement attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of the cylinder with the piston in position to start with steam or air of a normal pressure. Fig. 3 is the same, but showing the position of the parts at the end of the upward movement of the piston when the steam or air pressure is above normal. Fig. l is the same at the end of the downward movement of the piston. Fig. 5 is a view in elevation and partly sec` tional of the connecting-rod and guide-frame in position when the bell-crank is going over the upper portion of a revolution. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the piston detached. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section of the part for regulating the opening of the valve. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the valve-ring. Fig. 9 is a view of the piston-rod and piston with section of the regulating-piece in a modiiied form. Fig. 10 is a plan view of the regulating-piece shown in Fig. 9. Fig. ll is a plan view of the valveactuatiug piece detached. Fig. 12 is a view of the upper end of the connecting-rod detached with section of adj listing-nut. Fig. 13 is a section of Fig. 5, taken at .fr x. Fig. let is a vertical central section of the'cylinder with the operating mechanism in a modified form and in the position shown in Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference will be found indicating the same elements throughout the several illustrations.

a represents a portion of a locomotive-boiler, and b is a frame attached thereto for supporting the bell c, while d is t-he yoke, which carries the bell and is journaled upon the frame b, and is provided on the outer end ot' one of its journals with a crank e, having a wrist f. Upon the wrist f is mounted the upper end ot a guide-frame g, while the lower end is provided with a longitudinal opening or slide h, through which is passed the lower end portion of a connecting-rod t', the upper end of the rod being provided with a threaded end portion j, upon which is passed the threaded adj listing-nuts la, and a threaded nut l, with end portion m on the upper end portion of the piece,is adjusted to abut against the portion n, which projects toward the end m from the frame g, and to the lower end of the rod t' is pivoted the upper end of a piston-rod 0.

IOO

p is a cylinder provided with lugs q, by which it is secured to a permanent support projecting from the boiler-shell, and the upper end of the casing is closed by a head r, having a central opening s, through which passes the piston-rod o, and the lower portion t of the piston-rod is reduced and extends to the lower end of the cylinder, and is provided with a beveled shoulder u between the larger and smaller parts, and the lower end of the cylinder is closed by a head portion o, which forms an extension of the cylinder, with a chamber ct of a smaller diameter than the chamber h of the cylinder p, so that the shoulders c are arranged between the chamber b and the smaller' chamber ct. The lower end of the portion t of the piston-rod reaches into the chamber a and is provided with a screw-thread, and around the rod is loosely coiled a spring rl', and nuts e are passed over the threaded end of the rod to furnish a bearing for one end of the spring.

The lower end of the cylinder p is provided with an enlarged portion f above the shoulders c", and with the shoulders j on the upper portion, and in this portion f is placed a circular valve-actuatin g piece g', having a central opening h loosely fitted to pass over the piston-rod, and the upper portion of this piece g' is reduced to pass into the chamber b', leaving the radial flange c" to rest loosely in the space f and move between the shoulders c and j', and 0n one side the piece g is provided with a slot k', into which projects a stud Z to prevent the piece from revolving, and on the opposite side is arranged a slot m', opening into an exhaust opening n through the cylinder p.

Above and near to the exhaust-opening n is arranged an inlet-opening o', with a pipe p for admitting steam or compressed air into the cylinder, and q is a fiat ring tted so that its periphery lies closely against the walls of the chamber Z9', and is cut open and provided with a slot or space r', into which projects a stud s from the wall of the chamber, and the vertical dimension of the ring is such that when the ring rests upon the upper side of the operating-piece g and the flange t" rests on the shoulder c the upper edge of the valve-ring will be just at the lower edge of the inlet-opening o', so that the opening will be free for the admission of air or steam to the cylinder, and the valve-ring will in that position close the exhaust-opening n; but when the piece g is lifted to bring the flange il in contact with the shoulder j the valvering will be lifted to cover the inlet-port o and free the opening n for the exit of the air or steam from the chamber.

Above the valve-ring and resting on its upper edge is a regulating-piece t', fitted to lie loosely in the chamber, and is provided with a central vertical opening u', which loosely passes over the rod, and the portions o are cut away from opposite sides of the piece to allow a free passage of steam o'r air above the piece. Transversely through vthe piece t is arranged the openings a on opposite sides of the rod, and within these openings are passed the springs 1),which are arranged to bear with considerable force against the fiatened faces o on opposite sides of the rod.

Above the regulating-piece t is placed a piston-head d, provided with a central opening e, through which the rod is passed, and the upper edges of this opening are cut out to form a seat f, into which the shoulder u fits so as to form a valve-joint against the passage of the air or steam from below, and around the periphery of the head are arranged packing-rings g in the ordinary form.

When the bell is at rest, the parts are in the position shown in Figs. l and 2, and on steam or compressed air being admitted through the pipe p and inlet-port 0 it fills the chambers b and a below the piston d and causes the piston to rise to the top of the chamber b, and as the piston nears the end of its upward movement the upper portion of the spring CZ comes in contact with the under side of the actuating-piece g and lifts the piece, together with the ring-valve q', until the flange 'i' comes in contact with the shoulder j', and the ring-valve q has then covered and shut off the inlet-port o and uncovered the exhaust-opening ot to allow a free exit of the steam or air below the piston, and as the piston moves downward the regulating-piece comes in contact with the upper edges of the ring-valve and moves the valve downward and opens the inlet-port and closes the exhaust-port, and the upward movement of the piston by means. of the connecting-rod t' imparts to the crank e and the bell an upward oscillation until the piston has reached the end of its movement bv striking the head r, and the momentum of the bell then continues the movement of the crank and frame, and the connecting-rod t', being then retained from movement by the piston, allows the slide h to pass along the rod, the portion n moving away from the partm until the momentum of the bell is overcome by its gravity, which also then starts the bell on the downward portion of its oscillation, and the slide h then moves downward over the rod t' until the part n again comes in Contact with the part m, and then the piston-rod and piston is also moved downwardly by the gravity of the bell until the regulating-piece t comes in contact with the ring-valve and moves the valve to open the inlet-port while the bell is passing the lower or horizontal portion of its oscillation, so that the crank will be in position to oscillate the bell upwardly on the other side of its axial center with the next upward movement of the piston and so long as the proper normal pressure of compressed air or steam is admitted to the cylinder; but should the pressure of the air or steam be raised above the normal the piston is given a greater impetus, and the bell consequently receives a greater momen IOO IIO

tum on its upward swing, and is carried thereby beyond the usual point of stoppage, the frame g being drawn upward by the crank after the piston is at rest until the nut le, which projects over the rod, comes in contact with the upper end of the slide portion h, and the connecting-rod t' then moves with the frame g and draws the piston-rod o upwardly through the piston and regulatingpiece t and compresses the spring d', which serves also to cushion and partly check the momentum of the bell, and the bell, then passing through its return movement, causes the piston-rod to pass through the piston until the shoulder u comes `in contact with the shaft f which then carries the piston also downward, but with the piece t in advance of its usual position, so that the valve is actuated by the piece t to admit the air or steam in advance of the usual time and before the bell-crank has reached the lower portion of its oscillating movement; but the momentum of the bell is now considerably greater, and this acts with sufficient force to carry the crank to the opposite side of the vertical plane of its axis, which actuates the piston against the pressure below and moves the rod through the regulating-piece until the piece is against the under side of the piston and in its original position, and the steam or air pressure below the piston before it reaches the end of its downwardA movement forms a cushion which serves to retard the momentum of the bell, so that it starts again on its upward oscillation with the usual speed, and this operation and effect continues until the pressure of steam or air is reduced to ordinary or normal.

Of course the momentum of the bell is va- -ried by the difference in the force applied to actuate'the piston, and the distance to which the piston-rod is drawn upward through the regulating-piece by the momentum of the bell governs the time of moving the valve for opening the inlet-port for the admission of steam or air for the cushioning operation, as the greater the momentum given to the bell the greater the distance the rod is moved through the regulating-piece, and so in proportion is the momentum of the bell greater on its downward oscillation, which is to be checked by a sooner actuation of the valve to form the cushion.

The tension of the springs b is such that they impinge against the opposite sides of the piston-rod, so as to form a frictional contact which will retain the regulating-piece in position on the piston-rod with sufficient force to actuate the valve q downwardly, but not, however, with so great a force as to prevent the regulating-piece from moving on the rod when the rod is actuated by the force of the momentum of the bell, and the piston is re tained in position on the upper end of its movement by the frictional contact of the packing-rings with the walls of the chamber b, so that as the piston-rod moves downward it passes through the piston till the shoulder u comes in contact with the seat f whereby as the steam or air is admitted to the chamber the piston will have a firm and solid bearing against the force of the pressure below to prevent jar or pounding as the momentum of the bell forces the piston against the pressure below.

It will be understood that while I have described the twin springs b as beingarranged transversely with the regulating-piece one spring may be used, if desired, and produce the same result; or, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the spring may be placed vertically beside the piston and be secured thereto, so that the regulating-piece will slide upon the spring on one side and be held by the spring to a frictional contact with the opposite side ofthe opening and the rod, and the action will be the same so long as the frictional contact is such as to enable the regulating-piece to actu'- ate the valve at the proper time; and it will also be noticed, asshown in Fig. 14, that by providing the ring-valve with a greater vertical dimension and placing the inlet and exhaust ports at the proper distance from each other the spring d may be omitted, together with the flange fi and the enlargement f', as then the nuts e would be placed near the actuating-piece g', and as the piston moved to the upper end of the chamber the valve would be moved upward in the same manner as before described, and should the valve be actuated through the piston the Valve would be IOO moved upward to a greater distance, but would v also sooner engage with the regulating-piece on its downward movement and be actuated thereby downwardly and pass below and uncover the inlet-port at the same time as with the form of ring-valve before described, and while I have described the valve q as being operated by the piece g to close the inlet-port when the piston has nearly reached the endof its upward stroke, if desired, the movement of the valve can be regulated, however, to start off the air or steam pressure at any point of the upward movement of the piston by the adj usting-nut e', as by turning the nut upwardly on the rod to lessen the distance between the actuating-piece and the nut the valve will be sooner operated, so that the exact force required can be given to the piston. So that I do not confine my invention altogether to the devices herein shown for retaining the regulating-piece to the rod by friction or to the use of the spring d' for actuating the valve upwardly.

I claim-n l. In a bellringing apparatus, the combination of the cylinder having inlet and eX- haust port-s, a piston above the ports, a valve below the piston for closing the ports, the piston-rod passed into the cylinder and through the piston and provided with a shoulder above the .piston and carrying on its lower portion devices for actuating the valve IIO lating-piece secured upon the piston-rod by frictional lcontact between the piston and valve for operating the valve downwardly to open the inlet-port, and means, substantially as described, for moving the piston-rod upwardly through the piston by the momentum of the bell, substantially as set forth.

2. In abell-ringing device, the combination, with the cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, a piston within the cylinder, and a valve below the piston for covering-the ports, of a piston-rod vpassed into the cylinder and through 'the `piston and having a shoulder above the valve and with its. lower end eX- te-nding below the valve and carrying devices for actuating the valve upwardly at the end of the upward movement of the rod, a regulating-piece secured to the' Vrod `by frictional contact for moving the valve downwardly'at the end of the downward movement of the rod, a guide-frame connected by its upper end to the bell-crank and pro-vided on its lower end with a guide-opening, and a connecting-rod passed through the: said guideopening and pivoted by its lower end tothe piston-rod and provided on its upper end beyondthe slide with anadj'usting-nut forming a shoulder, substantially as set forth.

3. In a device for ringing abell, the combination, with a bell-crank, of a guide-frame with its upper end mounted on the crank and provided in its lower portion with a longitudinal slide or opening, a connecting-rod passed through the said slide or opening and having its upper end extending beyond the slide and provided with a nut forming a shoulder and lhaving its lower end pivotally connected to a piston-rod having a shoulder, a piston upon the rod below the shoulder, acylinder carrying the piston and rod and provided with inlet and exhaust ports and a valve for covering the ports, an actuatingpiece upon the rod below the valve for moving lthe valve upwardly at the end of the upward stroke of the piston, and a regulating-piece upon the rod between the piston and valve -for actuating the valve downwardly at the end of the downward stroke of thepiston and retained in position on the rod by frictional contact,whereby the regulating-piece is moved upon the rod by the momentum of the bell,

` paratus, of the cylinder provided with a longitudinal chamber having inits lower portion an enlargement f', with shoulders j and c', and provided with an inlet-port o and exhaust-opening n', a valve q for covering the ports, a regulating-piece t above the valve, a piston c above the regulating-piece, with a valve-actuating piece g below the valve and provided with a. radial ange projecting into the enlargement f a piston-rod passed into the cylinder and through the piston, regulating-piece, valve, and actuating-piece, and provided on its lower end with a projecting shoulder or nut, a coiled spring surrounding the portion of the rod above the nut,'a guide-frame `mounted by one end upon the bell-crank and provided on its opposite end with a guide-opening, and a connectingrod passed through the said guide-opening and provided on its upper end with a projecting nut and having its opposite end pivotally connected with the outer end of the piston-rod, substantially as set forth.

5. In a bell-ringing apparatus, the combination, with the cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports and a valve for covering the ports, a piston above the valve, and a valveactuating piece below the valve, of a pistonrod provided on its upper portion with a shoulder and having the portion below the shoulder passed through the piston, the valve, and valve-actuating piece, and with its lower screw threaded end extending below the valve-actuating piece and provided with an adjusting-nut, and means forv connecting the outer end of the piston-rod to the bell-crank, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL II. IIEGINBOTTOM.

Witnesses:

JAS. E.r THOMAS, G. P. THOMAS. 

